Caleb vs. the People of Joseph

“And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.” Joshua 14:10-12

Caleb – 85 years old – eager and ready to do battle to take possession of his inheritance. No tent-potato here. He wants what God has promised and he is willing to put forth effort to get it.
The people of Joseph (2 tribes – ½ tribe of Manasseh and Ephraim) also approached Joshua but rather than eager to possess they came to whine and complain:

Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given us only one lot and one share to inherit, since we are a great people, inasmuch as the LORD has blessed us until now?” So Joshua answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.” But the children of Joseph said, “The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel.” And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.” Joshua 17:14-18

Joseph’s people had excuses why they could not possess their inheritance. They wanted their possession handed to them, the very opposite of Caleb.

So which camp do you fall into? Are you a Caleb – ready to do battle to possess your inheritance? The inheritance is already yours – will you possess it? OR are you in Joseph’s camp – full of excuses why it’s too difficult to possess the inheritance that Jesus died to give you?

Personally, I think all too often I am less like Caleb than I care to admit.

Challenged? Me too!

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt – After serving 16 years full time on the staff of America’s Keswick, Diane and her husband moved to North Carolina where she continues to serve part time as a contributing writer and Partner Care Consultant. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.

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One thought on “Caleb vs. the People of Joseph”

Thanks Diane, indeed too many times we shrink back from any opposition, but like you I believe God sometimes allow these challenges to build our spiritual biceps.
Jesus gave it all so that we could receive it all. God bless